What happens when the thermostat on a water heater goes bad?
If the upper heating element or thermostat goes bad, you may get hot water at first, but you’ll quickly use up that hot water before the heated water at the bottom reaches the top. With a faulty high-limit thermostat, the element will keep heating the water above the set temperature and the high-limit switch will trip.
Why is there no hot water after replacing an element?
After being sure the water tank is full of water (which would not be the case after replacing an element) and the cutoff valve (s) are on, be sure the power is on. If you see voltage at the elements, it has got to be heating water. Unless they were not wired correctly.
What should I do if my hot water tank is not working?
If the element checks out good, then replace the thermostat. You can also measure the resistance from the element connections to the tank; they should be open and any reading indicates a bad element that is shorted to ground. In addition, keep this in mind– thermostats fail more often then the heating elements.
Why do I not get any hot water?
If you do not have any hot water, then it may be the upper element that is defective or the upper thermostat. If you are running out of hot water quickly, then it may be the lower element that is defective or the lower thermostat or the dip tube. You can test the elements to see if they are defective (even if they are new), with an Ohm-meter.
If the upper heating element or thermostat goes bad, you may get hot water at first, but you’ll quickly use up that hot water before the heated water at the bottom reaches the top. With a faulty high-limit thermostat, the element will keep heating the water above the set temperature and the high-limit switch will trip.
If you do not have any hot water, then it may be the upper element that is defective or the upper thermostat. If you are running out of hot water quickly, then it may be the lower element that is defective or the lower thermostat or the dip tube. You can test the elements to see if they are defective (even if they are new), with an Ohm-meter.
After being sure the water tank is full of water (which would not be the case after replacing an element) and the cutoff valve (s) are on, be sure the power is on. If you see voltage at the elements, it has got to be heating water. Unless they were not wired correctly.
If the element checks out good, then replace the thermostat. You can also measure the resistance from the element connections to the tank; they should be open and any reading indicates a bad element that is shorted to ground. In addition, keep this in mind– thermostats fail more often then the heating elements.
